Description:Very similar to Diastylis laevis but carapace of female with lines of small denticles, chiefly transverse, the male with the pseudorostral line regularly curved and the pseudorostrum acute, with only a single pair of spines apically or none. The postero-lateral corners of pereionite 5 with much longer acute prolongations. There is a sternal spine medially on the female pereionite 3. The basis of pereiopod 1 is as long as the remaining segments together and the propodus is much less than twice as long as the dactyl.Telson long, with two end spines, postanal part narrowed, and several pairs of lateral spines.

Size: Up to 12 mm.

Habitat:It occurs on coarser deposits than Diastylis laevis , usually in shallow water.

Depth range: Between 0 and 30 m depth.

Distribution in the North Sea:Southern North Sea, Skagerrak.

World distribution:This species overlaps the range of Diastylis laevis but extends less far to the south. It has been found from the Skagerrak to the Bay of Biscay and has probably been confused with D. laevis.